Mohave County miner., 1887-10-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, Oct. IL, 1887

tFkoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, Oct. IL, 1887
EDITOR Miner:
Thursday, October 9th, 1887, was real
red-letter day In the eventful history OF
the Capital Of the United States, and II
will long be q most glorious anniversary
in its annals, for II was the time set apart
for the great popular demonstration in
honor Of Alexander X. Shepherd. the
former Governor OF the District Of Colum-
bia, and the builder OF Washington, in
the opinion Of thousands Of Washington
ians, many Of whom regard their greatest
citisen--who after all is common clay
as q sort of superior being. Thousands
"a great multitude--thronged Pennsyl-
vania Avenue and adjoining streets amid
the boom OF cannon, the fash Of torch
lights, and lurid glare Of fireworks, the
blare Of brass bands, and the tramp Of
the long line Of footmen and horsemen,
citizens and soldiers, preceded by several
hundred bicyclists, bearing Chinese Ian
terms. All along the route the houses
were adorned with the stars aud stripes,
and oil Washington seemed to have turn
ed out 10 give more than royal greeting
to the man it delights TO honor. II this
splendid popular pageant had been paid
to successful military hero returning
from the pomp and triumph Of bloody
fields, or TO statesman crowned with the
laurels OF civic rcnown, il would not have
been in the least wonderful; but that Mr..
Shepherd, simply IA private citizen, with
out power to favor or reward, should thus
spontaneously receive this magnificent
tribute and bomeage from the populace
Of his native city, is uniqne and without
single parallel in the history Of the United
States; If, indeed, not that of the whole
world as well. And il Republics are
ungrateful," the Capital of the greatest Of
Republics is surely not 80.
The work on the fine State, War and
Navy Department building, which is pro-
nounced the grandest public structure in
the Federal city, is nearing completion,
and will, it is expected, be ready for
occupation early next January.
The constant and rapid growth of our
great Government departments--more
particularly the Patent and Pension
Ofices-keep pace with the progress and
upbuild:ng Of the whole country. There
are now several bureaus of the Interior
Department domiciled outside Of the main
building, and it is the purpose Of the
authorities TO remove the General Land
Office from thence to the Pension Office
sometime within the next year, thus
making room for such Of the smaller
bureaus az are crowded out and saving
the government huge rental.
Secretary Fairchild has issued circu.
lar to the custom officers urging their
adoption Of economic methods in the
collection OF custom duties, in view Of the
decreased appropriations for the purpose
In question.
| The Controller Of the Currency has
directed all National Banks TO prepare
statements showing the exact condition oi
their affairs at the close Of business on
Oct. 5th, lSS7--the object in doing 30 be-
ing obviously TO guard against fraud and
deception IN these degenerate days.
The report Of the Postoffice Department,
for the month Of August in the matter d
selling postage stamps makes very
gratifying exhibit, showing as it does that
in seventy-six first class postoffices there
was a gain of more than twelve per cent
over the sales Of the previous month.
Secretary Lamar is absorbed in making
his annual report, which will be more
voluminous than usual, dealing largely
with the affairs of the Indians and land,
and railroads.
The report Of Commissioner Of Patents
Hall to the Secretary Of the Interior show
, that the defalcation Of Bacon, late fnan
, cial clerk Of the Patent Office, is $30, 900
|, His bond was only SIC, 1000, and there is
question whether his bondsmen will b
;, liable for more than that amount.
:, The time fixed has expired without tn
Government being able to secure tn
fourteen million in four and four and
p half per cent. bonds called for by tn
8 September circular, the purchases onl
= amounting to s18,876,S5O.